"You have given me a 2nd chance for life"

I am a man of 67 years who has had little if not anything much to do with doctors or hospitals, and certainly has never experienced the wonderful work of our ambulance crews or the goings-on inside a hospital, when a serious situation occurs

One Wednesday in early March 2014, I took an old tv to the dolphin bridge council tip, and as I arrived there, massive pains shot across my chest, so much so I went into the tip to ask for some indigestion tablets if they had any. The 3 guys I met, luckily for me, were first aid officers and without saying anything to me called an ambulance. I was sitting on the tearoom floor as instructed by these guys when a lady paramedic appeared.

She was very polite..."Please will you come to the ambulance so I can just run a few tests" Of course I said yes, but as I told her, having no money with me etc. I said that if she had some tablets, I needed to get home. This is all happening at 2.50pm. As we proceeded with these tests, I politely explained that I had to get home as I live alone, with only 2 cats to worry about, when she sat down beside me and with words that will echo with me forever, she said "I will be very blunt if I may, all the time you have been talking, you have been having a heart attack! "

Frankly what I replied escapes me for at 2.57 the driver switched on his blue lights and we were heading for the N&N. Whilst we were on the move, she phoned thru' to the hospital with all the results she had found, and then turned to me and said "we are nearly at the hospital and they are aware of the situation and by the time we get to the hospital, all will be ready for you."

We arrived at approx. 3.06p. m. and I was immediately wheeled into theatre where the doctor and all his crew were waiting. My operation commenced at about 3.15 with me watching the whole thing via a monitor, and Doctor Gilbert who kept saying "You are very brave" several times, and me trying to explain that it's not bravery, just shock and bewilderment.

It was feeling so surreal. The stent was inserted via my wrist, everything according to plan.

I was put into the Coronary recovery ward, where I spent the next 3 days before being transferred to Kilverstone for the weekend, and now I am able to sit here at home, which as I have been told many times, would not have happened but for the 3 guys down at the tip.

The main bulk of my recovery was from a large dedicated team of doctors and nurses, from Doctor Gilbert down through the ranks, from nurses, auxiliary staff, porters and even the cleaning staff, who every time we met, were so encouraging and supportive in my well being.

So to all of those involved in getting me to where I am at this moment, you have given me a 2nd chance for life, which, without you, I certainly would not be writing this.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and I would say to anyone caught in the same predicament I found myself in, don't be afraid... They really do care.